Knowledge of God

So far we have looked into the concepts of revelation and the Word of God, and now we move on to knowledge of God. I have to admit that these three concepts, though distinct, are so closely related and interconnected that it's hard to keep them straight and not mash them all together! I think this is so because, as Weber points out, God's activity in which he makes himself known to us is not only the content of our knowledge of God, but is the thing that makes our knowledge possible!

We'll start here. I think that perhaps the most important sentence from this chapter is that,

He [God] not only makes himself into the object of our knowing, but in the same act he makes us into those who know him.

Weber, 196.

God, in the same act whereby he makes himself known to us, he creates and activates within us the ability to know him (but not in a sense of a switch being thrown on). God "opens us up" (p. 196) in order to know him. This opening is something that we could never do on our own, even with the best philosophy, logic, or reason that we could muster. This is what the rather large section on "natural theology" is all about. Weber 'says it all' on page 209,

The human conscience can be the place where the truth is made known. But again we must say that this occurrence cannot be deduced from the most profound analysis of human perception or of human conscience, or be prepared for by the training of the conscience separate from the message. No human activity including the most careful apologetics can change the fact that "the god of this world [!] has blinded the minds of the unbelievers" (2 Cor. 4:4). Instead, the creative readiness of our conscience and our mind is revealed in the new act of creation, done by the One "...who said, 'Let light shine out of the darkness...'" (2 Cor. 4:6)!

Weber, 209. My emphasis.

In my view, the most important point to be noted about the opposition to natural theology, is that Jesus Christ, the Word, the Gospel, God, needs no preparation in order to open a person up to know God. They do not need to know they're a sinner, they do not need to believe that a god can possibly exist, they do not need to feel the emptiness and hole inside of their heart, they do not even need the inherent (i.e., natural) ability to know God, etc. God doesn't need or require a "point of contact", as God's Word is in and of itself a self-creating point of contact. This is what Weber is on about on p. 214f. So much for natural theology.

So what is 'knowledge of God' like? This is important, though I almost forgot about it in the sea of natural theology and proofs for God's existence (or lack thereof). Knowledge of God is always response to him, it is "concrete, personal, and unspeculative", it is "ultimately always acknowledging", it is "the experience of the I-Thou relationship", it is "nothing other than the knowledge of Jesus Christ...nothing other than faith itself", etc. (quotes from pp. 196-8) It has what Weber calls, "a practical orientation." (p. 198) Knowledge of God is not an end in itself but is that which results in real and practical changes in behavior. He sums it us beautifully on p. 198, saying,

[T]he knowledge of God is not the noetic reception of "something," but the relationship and behavior which involves all of man, which takes place between the individual "I" (or "we") of knowing man and the Thou of a loving and knowing God...God...has established this relationship. The knowledge of God is fellowship with God.

Weber, 198. My emphasis.

So knowledge of God is not primarily information or stuff about God. The sons of Eli knew about God but did not know him. Even the demons believe that God exists, and shutter. Obviously, knowing about God or believing that God exists is not what true, real, active, living knowledge of God is after. This is because knowledge of God, or,

Fellowship with God takes place in grateful and obedient response to the Word given to us, in faith which answers the faithfulness of God...it...is a thankful living "under" God.

Weber, 199.

Well put. As this post quickly becomes as long as the chapter, I will bring it to a close. There's lots that I didn't cover that is important and/or provocative. Thoughts?